Cultivation Practice of Neem(Azatarechta)
Kingdom: Plants
Family: Meliaceae Genus: Azadirachta
Species: indica
Nepali names: Neem
English name: Margosa or China berry or Paradise tree
Sanskrit name: Nimbah
Origin and Distribution:
Native to India and upper Myanmar or Tropical South East Asia India, central and South America, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Mayanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Sudan, Mauritius, Nigeria, Haiti, South-East Asia, Africa and tropical Australia
Plant Description:
A medium large evergreen, perennial tree, 15 to 25m in height, Stem-woody aerial, erect, spreading, branched, solid, straight clean trunk.
The bark of the trunk is 1-2 cm thick, furrowed, longitudinally and obliquely, dark grey outside and reddish brown inside, The sapwood is yellowish white and heartwood is red or brown. The inner bark is reddish brown glabrous. Leaves- alternate, compound bipinnate and imparipinnate , Inflorescence cymose, axillary panicle. Flowers- pedicellate, bisexual, small, pentamerous, white and fragrant purple flowers, Flowering usually February to may. Sepals-5, Petals - 5, Stamens 10 Fruit-One seeded drupe greenish yellow in colour endocarps woody, Ripen during June August. Seed-ellipsoid, albumen thick fleshy 1-1.5 cm long. Neem is a valuable, sacred, miraculous tree for its versatile use and has recently come to the focus of global attention. Deciduous in habit. It is native to India and the Indian subcontinent including Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Typically growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Neem trees now also grow in islands in the southern part of Iran. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil.
Plant Description:
A medium large evergreen, perennial tree, 15 to 25m in height, Stem-woody aerial, erect, spreading, branched, solid, straight clean trunk.
The bark of the trunk is 1-2 cm thick, furrowed, longitudinally and obliquely, dark grey outside and reddish brown inside, The sapwood is yellowish white and heartwood is red or brown. The inner bark is reddish brown glabrous. Leaves- alternate, compound bipinnate and imparipinnate , Inflorescence cymose, axillary panicle. Flowers- pedicellate, bisexual, small, pentamerous, white and fragrant purple flowers, Flowering usually February to may. Sepals-5, Petals - 5, Stamens 10 Fruit-One seeded drupe greenish yellow in colour endocarps woody, Ripen during June August. Seed-ellipsoid, albumen thick fleshy 1-1.5 cm long. Neem is a valuable, sacred, miraculous tree for its versatile use and has recently come to the focus of global attention. Deciduous in habit. It is native to India and the Indian subcontinent including Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Typically growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Neem trees now also grow in islands in the southern part of Iran. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil.
Cultivation:
a. Climate and Soil
Neem is a tropical, fast growing tree especially suited to semi arid conditions.
Grows in the plains in areas that reach an elevation of about 1500m-1800m.
It can withstand temperature as high as 49°c and low as 0°C.
Rainfall 130-200cm/yr.
It can tolerate as little rainfall as 130mm/yr.
Frost and hailstorm may affect its growth.
It can be grown in subtropical and sub temperate climate also.
b. Propagation
The seeds are collected from June to August
The remain viable for a short period 3- 5 weeks only.
Ripe fruit pulp should be removed by hand (depupled )
Properly air dried seeds survive for at 1 year .
Propagation through seeds .
The seeds are collected from June to August.
The seeds remain viable for a short period of 3 to 5 weeks only.
Propagation through seeds. Sometimes Root cutting, Shoot cuttings or Root strumps are also planned.
Preparation of Land:-2-3 ploughings, 1-2 harrowing and levelling. Aldrex in the s.oil before planting are recommended
Nursery Bed: Neem seeds are nursery to germinate. Water soaking may be done for quick and better germination. Seed are sown in rows in 15-20cm apart tat 1 to 1.5cm depth. The seedlings can be raised in basket and in polythene bags abo. The beds are sparingly watered after sowing. Entire seedlings may be transplanted in the fields or planted inside thorny bushes to provide initial protection from cattle damages.
Direct Planting: When seedlings become 8-16 weeks old ready for transplanting in general 12- 18 months old seedlings are planted in the beginning of monsoon. Line sowing method is also practiced.
Sowing season: May to July August in nursery bed. Planting in the monsoon season (July to September) in the main field. Stem cutting of neem treated with 1,000ppm of IBA is best treatment which induces profuse rooting. Sum caning treated with 100 ppm of IAA & NAA and GA3 in also produced roots affectively under mist chamber
It can tolerate as little rainfall as 130mm/yr.
Frost and hailstorm may affect its growth.
It can be grown in subtropical and sub temperate climate also.
b. Propagation
The seeds are collected from June to August
The remain viable for a short period 3- 5 weeks only.
Ripe fruit pulp should be removed by hand (depupled )
Properly air dried seeds survive for at 1 year .
Propagation through seeds .
The seeds are collected from June to August.
The seeds remain viable for a short period of 3 to 5 weeks only.
Propagation through seeds. Sometimes Root cutting, Shoot cuttings or Root strumps are also planned.
Preparation of Land:-2-3 ploughings, 1-2 harrowing and levelling. Aldrex in the s.oil before planting are recommended
Nursery Bed: Neem seeds are nursery to germinate. Water soaking may be done for quick and better germination. Seed are sown in rows in 15-20cm apart tat 1 to 1.5cm depth. The seedlings can be raised in basket and in polythene bags abo. The beds are sparingly watered after sowing. Entire seedlings may be transplanted in the fields or planted inside thorny bushes to provide initial protection from cattle damages.
Direct Planting: When seedlings become 8-16 weeks old ready for transplanting in general 12- 18 months old seedlings are planted in the beginning of monsoon. Line sowing method is also practiced.
Sowing season: May to July August in nursery bed. Planting in the monsoon season (July to September) in the main field. Stem cutting of neem treated with 1,000ppm of IBA is best treatment which induces profuse rooting. Sum caning treated with 100 ppm of IAA & NAA and GA3 in also produced roots affectively under mist chamber
Seed Rate: About 5-8 kg/ha.
Spacing:- Digging of pits, Size-30 to 45 cubic cm.
Manures and Fertilizers: 20-25 tons of FYM/Compost/ha. 80:40:40 kg of NPK/ha. 5kg of organic manure young tree. 10-15 kg of org manure/ adult tree. Interculture: 2-3 weeding and hoeing, Water logged condition is not suitable for Soil is put amount the base to make small mound. Training and pruning is also needed at regular interval. Irrigation:- seeds irrigation frequently in the Initial stages during summer months 4.5 irrigations/year. Seedling stage is a critical stage where adequate soil moisture is needed. Intercrops: Conon, Soybean, Groundnut, Millets, Sorghum, Seasamum , Garlic, Onion, Carrot etc.
Spacing:- Digging of pits, Size-30 to 45 cubic cm.
Manures and Fertilizers: 20-25 tons of FYM/Compost/ha. 80:40:40 kg of NPK/ha. 5kg of organic manure young tree. 10-15 kg of org manure/ adult tree. Interculture: 2-3 weeding and hoeing, Water logged condition is not suitable for Soil is put amount the base to make small mound. Training and pruning is also needed at regular interval. Irrigation:- seeds irrigation frequently in the Initial stages during summer months 4.5 irrigations/year. Seedling stage is a critical stage where adequate soil moisture is needed. Intercrops: Conon, Soybean, Groundnut, Millets, Sorghum, Seasamum , Garlic, Onion, Carrot etc.
Harvesting and Yield:
The flowering starts in February-March and ends in May-Jane while shed their leaves during March April . Neem fruits are green drupes that golden yellow on ripening in the month of June to August . The fruits can be collected from June till August Leaves should he harvested just before flowering or after the seeds are set . The leaves of neem tree should he harvested when the plant 2-3 years old or 6-8 till tree. Hand plucking is usually done. Neem starts bearing fruits at the age of 5 years. 15-30 years-old tree fur timber purposes
Yield-350-400 g of dry dry leaves/v. and 60-100kg fruits/yr. obtained from It produces about 50- -60 kg berries tree and the kernel yields 45% of fixed oil.
Yield-350-400 g of dry dry leaves/v. and 60-100kg fruits/yr. obtained from It produces about 50- -60 kg berries tree and the kernel yields 45% of fixed oil.
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